Selston boss delighted with start to life in the CML

Selston boss Craig Weston says he’s been pleasantly surprised by the way the Parishioners have begun life in the Central Midlands League South.

Weston’s side sit third in the table with games in hand on Belper United and Eastwood CFC above them and boast a 100 per cent home record.

And having moved across from the Notts Senior League in the summer, Weston believes the club as a whole has coped well with the new challenge.

He said: “Obviously when you come into a new league there’s a big sense of the unknown but I was familiar with one or two clubs in this division I could use as something of a yardstick.

“I was always hopeful we’d do well without expecting us to win the title or anything like that, which remains the case, but the fact we’ve lost only once in the first 12 games has been really promising.

“We kept the best of our squad from last season together and were able to add some good players into the mix which has given us good strength and competition in all areas.

“If anything, the biggest challenge has been keeping the whole squad fresh and fit but as injuries and suspensions start to kick in we’ve been able to use more players.

“The lads have taken everything on board really well.”

The Parishioners’ most recent success was a 3-1 win over Clay Cross Town last Saturday, their final two goals coming late in the game - a factor which Weston feels is partly down to his squad’s good fitness levels.

He added: “I put a high priority on fitness because it can give you a big advantage at this level if other teams tire at the end of each half.

“That’s why we often score goals at those times and I think it’s an important factor.

“I think it also helps us that, unlike previous seasons, we’ve not been at the top of the league as that can make you more of a scalp for teams and they raise their game against you.

“Things are going well enough to suggest we might be up there ourselves before too long but for now we’ll enjoy not being under as much pressure!”

Selston’s home form has seen them win all six of their games on their own patch this season, an impressive surface playing a big part in that form.

“It’s a great pitch and suits the kind of football I like us to play,” said Weston.

“Obviously to be successful you have to adapt your style to suit the opposition and also the kinds of pitches we might play on accordingly so we have to be flexible, but we have the character in the side to do that.”

As for the future, Weston says those behind the scenes will dictate how the club develops, but added he enjoys being part of the Selston family.

He said: “It’s a really well run club, one of the best I’ve come across, and with the kind of village mentality Selston possesses it’s great that people get behind the team, especially for the big local derbies.

“There’s been talk of us perhaps installing floodlights at some point or potentially moving to a different ground but right now we’re taking things one step at a time and enjoying our new adventure.”

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